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Colorado wildfire: Family of Broncos' Ben Garland loses home to Waldo Canyon Fire

By Lindsay JonesThe Denver Post

Posted:
06/29/2012 02:08:47 PM MDT

Updated:
06/29/2012 10:18:46 PM MDT

Aerial photos from Thursday of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs show the destructive path of the fire in Mountain Shadows subdivision area. (RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

Ben Garland's grandparents fled their home in the Mountain Shadows subdivision in Colorado Springs Tuesday afternoon with only enough time to grab a few belongings before the Waldo Canyon Fire tore through the neighborhood.

Sharon and Hal Garland evacuated to the Denver metro area where they stayed with their grandson, a defensive lineman who is competing for a spot on the Broncos' roster. Together, they saw aerial photos of the subdivision that confirmed their fears: Their home was gone.

Broncos defensive lineman Ben Garland, right, salutes Brig. Gen. Trulan A. Eyre during a ceremony where Garland was sworn into the Colorado Air National Guard at the team's headquarters and training facility May 30. Garland graduated from the U. S. Air Force Academy in 2010. (Ed Andrieski, The Associated Press)

"My grandma is absolutely devastated," Garland said Friday.

Garland said his family lost many irreplaceable heirlooms, and Garland kept many of his own belongings at the home, all of which are now gone. The family, though, is grateful they were all able to escape unharmed. The extended family, including an aunt, uncle and niece, has since gone to Grand Junction to stay with Garland's mother and brother.

"I just wanted to thank them for their hard work, going out of their way to save peoples homes and lives," Garland said. "It was cool to see how community came together. It makes you proud to be a part of Colorado."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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